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Wheeler ‘Scout’ Skycraft Mark 1 microlight aircraft, 1978

This is a Skycraft Scout Mark I ultralight designed and made by Ron Wheeler between 1976 and 1978. The design and manufacture of ultralight aircraft, an aeroplane reduced to its most basic form, was pioneered in Australia by Ron.

Leisure aviation has been an activity pursued by a section of the Australian community for decades. Pre-World War II, the aero club movement with its government subsidised pilot training, allowed many people to learn to fly. Even so, the cost of training was prohibiti...

Summary

Object No.

85/1586

Object Statement

Aircraft, full size, Skycraft Scout Mark I Microlight, ultralight, designed and made by Ron Wheeler, Australia, 1976-1978

Physical Description

Aircraft, full size, Skycraft Scout Mark I Microlight, ultralight, designed and made by Ron Wheeler, Australia, 1976-1978

The frame of the aircraft is made of extruded alloy sections braced with stainless steel stranded wire. The flying and control surfaces are dacron with batons inserted for additional rigidity. The aircraft is powered by a 'Pixie 153' two-stroke aero engine and is fitted with chain and sprocket transmission, with a skycraft laminated wood propeller. The aircraft can be fitted with either a wheeled undercarriage or floats for land or water usage. The pilot sits below the sing and regulates flight with the throttle and two axis control joy stick.

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Dimensions

Height

1900 mm

Width

8700 mm

Depth

5100 mm

Weight

75 kg

Production

Notes

In 1974 Ron Wheeler, a Sydney boat builder, took aircraft design back to basics. Although Mr Wheeler had no experience in aircraft design, he began the project in his spare time referencing information from his local technical college and council libraries. Using modern technologies of extruded aluminium and high strength synthetic fabrics, Wheeler produced one of the world's first microlight or minimum aircraft, the Skycraft Scout. The Scout is powered by a 12 horsepower engine behind which the pilot sits controlling the aircraft with a simple two axis joy stick. The aircraft is portable, able to be transported to the airfield and assembled on site and can be fitted with wheels or floats. Originally conceived as purely a recreational aircraft the Scout, like many pioneer aircraft, is a testament to the human desire for flight.

This aircraft is the first of the production models of the Scout Mark 1 to be produced. The first flight of the prototype Scout took place at Heathcote Oval, New South Wales in 1974. Wheeler, having already developed 'Tweetie', a successful hang glider, simply modified the design of the glider to have the pilot seated instead of hanging below the wings, and of course to accommodate an engine.

In 1975 Ron Wheeler approached The Department of Transport to issue an Air Navigation Order regulation for ultralight and minimum aircraft. Subsequently, the Department issued ANO 95.10 for unlicensed pilots to fly aircraft weighing less than 180 kilograms under a number of restrictive conditions, including altitude restrictions, and not to fly over sealed roads. This allowed the ultralight aircraft industry to take-off, and Wheeler went into full time production of the Scout as a leisure craft. The floats that are displayed attached to the Scout were designed by Wheeler and added to the aircraft in September 1977. The aircraft with floats was first displayed at the Schofield Air Show in 1978, and was the world's first microlight floatplane.

Ron Wheeler donated the aircraft to the Powerhouse Museum in 1985, and it has been on display in the Transport gallery since 1988.